Adidas releases 8 heritage-inspired 2018 World Cup kits

With the 2018 World Cup in Russia a little over seven months away, Adidas has released eight kits for nations set to vie for the quadrennial prize.

According to Adidas' website, each kit is "inspired by past shirt designs ... now brought into the 21st century with progressive tooling and innovation," and pays tribute to various continental runs for the respective teams.

Here's a look:

Colombia: A throwback to the 1990 World Cup strip sported by frizzy afro purveyor Carlos Valderrama, this ditty is sharper than a serpent's tooth.

Spain: Before his dome was a reflective surface fit for glittering Premier League honours, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola sported a similar offering during the 1994 World Cup.

Japan: This strip pays homage to "the traditional craftsmanship of Sashiko stitching technique," a form of decorative reinforcement stitching that will do little to stem Maya Yoshida's tendency for misplaced tackles.

Germany: Inspired by Die Mannschaft's Italia '90 efforts, this offering resembles the results of a polygraph test taken by Joachim Low: "Jogi, will Dortmund winger Andre be fit for the World Cup?" "Schurrle."

Belgium: Equal parts "grandpa left you some of his old jumpers in the attic" and "grandpa left you some of his old argyle socks in the basement," Eden Hazard and Co. are set to wear this peculiar strip that hearkens back to Belgium's Euro '84 entry.

Argentina: While celebrating the Argentina Football Association's 125th anniversary, Lionel Messi will wear a special edition of this muted strip with the kit numbers of all his La Albiceleste mates as he continues to put the 2014 finalist on his back.

Russia: A remix of seminal Soviet-era kits, host Russia will look smart if not understated in this chemise that features the credo "Victory-Bound as One," a nod to a forthcoming group-stage exit.

Mexico: As slick on the pitch as on the streets, Mexico's latest strip is an ode to the 90s, and is remarkably better than rival United States' 2018 World Cup kit. Huzzah.

(Photos courtesy: adidas.com)